Can opener



Feb. 21, 15939. .J. A. MuRDocK GAN OPENER Filed Nov. 22, 1937 l V 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fb 2T, 1939' l A. MuRDocK Y 2,143,130

" CAN OENER Filed Nov. 2. 1937 2 sheets'sneet 2 y.. l I I l Parental Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE Vaughan Novelty Mfg. Co. Inc., Chi corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1932, Serial No. 175,281

elements whereby cans of diierent shapes may be R received by the opener without undue stress to any operating part of the opener.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener in which can-engaging elements :may be moved to engage the' bead of the can on opposite sides and positively grip and drive the can when the openerv is operated.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appear from the following descript-ion of' a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the can opener in its normal initialposition;

iiiig. 2 is an end elevational view of the can opener, the operating crank being turned from the position shown in' Fig. 1 without, however, moving the cam to can-engaging position.

4Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the parts in cutting relation;

'llg 4' is an end view corresponding to Fig. 3, showing a can being cut; l

v'liig 5 is a'sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line S-Spf Fig. 3, showing the elements in cutting relation; v

Fig. 6 is an end view of the eccentric member: .Fig '7 is a'sectional detail view, showing the positionof the cams in initial can-receiving position; y

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the cams in an intermediate position corresponding to relative movements of the cutting elements or to cutting posltion; I

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the cams in cutting position;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing modified can-engaging elements, and Y Fig. l1 is a similar view showing further modiiied can-engaging elements.

Referring toA thefdrawings, the reference nu- 55 meral I0 designates a socket member which may suitably be secured to the wall. The socket member is provided at each side with marginal groove formations I I which converge downwardly slightly from the vertical, for the purpose of receiving a complementary base plate I2l which is integral 5 with the frame I9 of the opener. The Iframe I3 extends outwardly from the base I2 so as to provide ample space for the manipulation of the actuating member, which is preferably a crank arm I4.

The crank arm I4 comprises a radial arm I5 on which is rotatably mounted a handle I6. At its opposite end the radial arm, I5 is rigidly secured .to a shaft II which is rotatably mounted in a bore 8 in a cylinder i9. The lbore I8 is located eccentrlcally in the cylinder I9 so that the shaft I1 is provided with an eccentric mounting in which it may rotate. The cylinder I9 is provided with a projection 20 for a purpose hereinafter described. 20 l The cylinder I9 is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical opening 2l in a boss 22 provided in the forward part. ofthe frame I3. 'Ihe opening 2| slopes downwardly from the right-hand side to the left-hand side of the device and the shaft I'I extends through the opening I8 so that this shaft points downwardly away from the crank I4.

The right-hand flat surface of the boss 22 is provided with an opening 23 in which is received with a pressed fit a stop pin 24. On this face of the boss 22 is mounted a stationary cam member 25 which is provided with an apex 2G at its uppermost point. Opposite the apex 26 the cam member 25 is provided with stops 21 located on opposite sides oi' the pin 24 so that the cam member it Is held stationary at all times. The cam member 25 is provided with an opening 28 in alig'nment with the bore 2| so that the cylindrical member i9 may extend thereinto, as best seen in Fig. 5.

A movable cam and stop member 29 is mounted on the outer side of the stationary cam 25. The member 29 is provided with an opening Il! adapted to receive the shaft I1 and it is provided with an opening 3| adapted to receive the projection 20 of the cylinder yI9 so that the cam and stop member' 29 always moves with fthe cylinder I9. The radial arm II is provided with an annular chamber around the shaft I1, in which chamber is located a helical spring 32 which is adapted to 50 press against the movable cam and stop member 29. This spring permits a limited resilient action longitudinally of the axis of the shaft I1 with respect to the frame I2 which allows alimited separation between the inner face of the can 25 and 55 the face of the shoulder 41 on the lower traction member 43. The other end of the shaft I1 is provided with a washer 33 which extends beyond the periphery of the bore 2| and bears against the left-hand face of the boss 22.

Beyond the washer 33 the shaft I1 is threaded. A dual-purpose driving element 34, having a threaded opening, is' mounted on the shaft I1..

Beneath the boss 22 the frame I3 provides a solid portion within which is formed a substantially'rectangular opening 35, which opens to the left. as best seen in Fig. 5. The opening 38 is slightly elongated relative to a block 31 which is inserted freely into the opening 38 and is normally held against movement by a resilient member 38 of rubber or other suitable material. This block is located in a threaded opening 39 which extends from the lower side of the frame up wardly into the opening 36. A screw 40 is threaded into the opening 39 below the block 38 so as to provide a means of regulating the pressure required to hold the block 31 against displacement. At the same time the resilient member 38 permits the block 31 to move somewhat when subjected to unusual or excessive strains.

'me block s1 is provided with a shouldered' chamber 4I in which is received a shouldered shaft 42, upon the outer end of which is mounted a traction member 43. The shaft 42 is provided with an axial recess which opens to the right and contains a compression spring 44 which bears against the frame I3 and normally forces the shaft 142 outwardly so that it bears against the shoulder of the shouldered cham'ber 4I, and presses the lower traction member 43 into its outermost position when the can opener is idle and until complete engagement with the bead of the can is effected. Suitable shims 45, preferably of hard material, are located on the inner end of the opening 35 so that the spring 44 bears against them. These shims 45 are provided to accommodate manufacturing tolerances so that the clearance between the inner face of the cutter 35 and the lower traction member 43 may be set accurately at the time of assembly of the can opener. It will readily be understood that the traction member 43 is able to move inwardly under the influence of exterior force, and when the canopener is operated the inner face of the lower traction member 43 bears against the outer face of block 31. The traction member 43 consists of a pinion having beveled peripheral teeth 4l adapted to mesh with the teeth of the dual-purpose driving element 34 when the cylinder I9 is located so as to bring the shaft I1 at its lowest position.

The traction member 43 is provided on its outer side with a can-engaging shoulder 41 which may be peripherally serrated so' as to enable it more firmly to grip the underside of the bead of a v can.

pin 49 extending transversely of the arm I5 and passing through a slot 50 in the latch member. The latch member 48 is guided against lateral displacement by means of abutments 5I located inside the arm I5. The outer end of the latch 48 is reduced in width, as best seen in Fig. 5, and the reduced end is engaged by a compression spring 52 which abuts against shoulders on the latch member 48 and against the outer end oi the arm I5. The inner end of the latch member 48 is ,adapted to engage a stop 53 in the interior of the arm I5. The arm I5 is cut away adjacent its pivot, as indicated at 54, so as to allow the arm to clear the stationary cam 25 and the movable cam and stop member 29 as the crank is rotated, and to provide clearance for the lateral resilient movement of the shaft I1 and its assembly. v The cam 25 and movable cam and stop member 29 are in alignment with a projecting part 55 of the latch member 48.

The movable cam-and stop member 2S is best seen in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. This movable cam and stop member is provided with a detent formation 58 which is adapted to engage the pin 24 during cutting and to'hold the member 29 immovable during the cutting operation. The movable cam and stop member is also provided with a cam rise portion 51, 58 being the low point and 59 being the high point of the cam rise. Fig. 7 shows. the position of the cams and associated parts when the opener is in the can-receiving position. The latch 48 is in the full-line position and the shaft I1 is at an elevated position with respect to the axis of the cylinder I9, corresponding to the cutter 35 being in its elevated canreceiving position.

When the crank is rotated in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '7, the -latch 48 is carried around the apex 26 of the cam 25 and owing to the elevated position of the shaft I1 it does not engage this apex. Continued rotation of the crank brings the latch 48 into its dot-and-dash position so that it engages the cam portion 51 adjacent its low point 58. Continued rotation of the crank causes the member 29 to rotate in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, through the position shown in Fig. 8-to the position shown in Fig. 9. During this movement of the movable member 29, the shaft I1 is moved downwardly so that, the latch 48 rides on the upper portion of the stationary cam member 25.

As the latch member 48 approaches the apex 28 of the cam 25, the latch is moved outwardly clear of the low point 58 of the cam rise portion 51, and then moves over this cam rise portion clicking into the dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. 9. When the latch 48 reaches the apex 26 of the cam 25,` the detent formation 56 just engages the pin 24 so that further rotation of the movable cam member 29 is prevented during continued rotation of the crank in the clockwise direction.

During repeated rotations of -the crank in the clockwise direction the latch member 48 clears the lower portions of the cam members 25 and 29, as viewed in Fig. 9, on account of the low position of the shaft I1. During these continued rotations, however, the latch member 48 rides up to the apex 25 of the cam member 25, and over the cam rise portion 51. of the crank proceeds until the cover of the can is completely cut. When .cutting is complete the crank is moved in counter-clockwise direction until the latch 48 attains its dot-and-dash posi.

tion shown in Fig. 9. Continued counter-clock- Such continued rotation.

, 2,148,180 wise movement of the crank brings the latch and the movable cam member 29 through the position shown in Fig. 8 back to the -position shown in Fig. '7, when the reverse movement is terminated by the engagement of the projection 51 with the pin 24.

The frame I3 is provided immediately below the cutter 35 and the traction wheel 43 with a" jection 51 of the movable cam and stop member 29 and the shaft I1 is moved downwardly, carrying the cutter 35 into its downward position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In so moving downwardly the lower portion of the cutter wheel 35 is carried through the top of the can immediately inside the upper bead, as best seen in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the cutter wheel 35 rotates at all times with the crank and, consequently, the can puncturing movement of. the cutterwheel 35 is a combined rotary and downward movement. The downward movement of the cutter 35 brings the teeth of the driving element 34 both into engagement with the teeth 46 of the lower traction wheel 43 and with the top side of the bead of the can so that continued rotation lof the crank in the clockwise direction positively causes the can to rotate in the clockwise direction, the cutter wheel 35 acting upon the can coveraround its whole periphery so as to sever same from the can. When cutting is complete, the can is grasped by the left hand and the crank turned in the c'ounterclockwise direction until it is arrested by the attainment of the position shown in Fig. '7 which, as has been previously pointed out, corresponds to the elevated position of the cutter wheel 35. The open can is ,now removed and the operation is complete. The resilient mounting of the cutter 35 provided by the spring 32, and the freedom of movement provided for the traction wheel 43, enables cans of different types and variable structure to be handled without applying undue stresses to any part of the opener.

f vides the lower abutment for the can bead may be plain or smooth. This shoulder is formed on a wheel 43' mounted in the same manner as the traction member 43 previously described. In this embodiment,A however, the member .43v is not provided with teeth and is notV driven except by the movement 'of the can.

Althoughthev invention has beendisclosed in f l connection with the specific details of lpreferred embodiments thereof, it must be understoodk that ,l

such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A can opener having a frame, a bearing mem- 5 ber rotatably mounted in said frame, a c-ank having a shaft eccentrically mounted in 4said bearing member, complementary can cutting elements on said shaft and said frame, a cam member mounted on said frame, a stop member 10 mounted on said bearing member adjacent said cam member, means on said frame member i adapted to cooperate with the 'stop member lto limit the rotary movement of the bearing member to locate the c-an cutting elements in opera- 1 tive and inoperative relation, a latch on the crank adapted to engage a projection on the stop member to effect displacement of the bearing member,

said cam having an apical portion .which is adapted to elevate the latch above the projection 20 when the bearing member is in cutting position and the crank is rotated in can cutting direction.

2. Acan opener having a frame, a bearing member rotatably mounted in said frame, a crank having a shaft eccentrically mounted in 25 said bearing member, complementary can cutting. elements on said shaft and said frame, a. cam member mounted on said frame, a stop member mounted on said bearing member adjacent said cam member, means on said frame 30 member adapted to cooperate with the stop member to limit the rotary movement of the bearing fmember to locate the can cutting elements in operative and inoperative relation, a latch on the crank adapted to engage a projection on' the 35 stop member to effect displacement ofthe bearing member, said cam having an elevated portion which registers with the projection when the bearing member is moved to cutting position whereby the latch is elevated on to the projec- 40 tion when the crank is operated in cutting direction, said projection having a portion extending beyond the elevated portion'of the cam whereby the latch can engage the projection and carry the stop member past the cam to can releasing 45 position.

3. A can opener having a frame, a bearing member rotatably mounted in said frame, a crank having a shaft eccentrically mounted in said bearing member, complementary can cut- 50 l ting elements on said shaft and said frame, a cam member mounted on said frame and having an apical portion, a stop member mounted on said bearing member adjacent said cam member. means on said'frame memberadapted to cooperate with the stop member to limit the rotary movement of the bearing member to locate the can cutting elements in operative and inoperative relation, a latchon the crank adapted to engage a projection on the stop member to effect 60 displacement of the bearing member, said projection having a cam formation.. one end of which is' within and the other end of which is beyond the apical portion of .the cam, said stop means being located so that the first said end is brought into register with the apical portion ofthe cam when the bearing member is` in cutting position, whereby thelateh is elevated on to the cam formation when the crank is` operated in cutting direction, and-the latch engages Y the projection and carries '7'0 it past the apical portion when the crank is rotated in the opposite direction.

4. can opener having a.l frame, a bearing member rotatably lmounted insaid frame, a crank --having a .shaft eccentrically mounted in said u bearing member, complementary can cutting elements on said shaft and said frame, a stop member projecting from said frame at the end of the bearing member remote from the cutting elements, a cam member mounted on said bearing member held against rotation by said stop means, said cam member having an apical portion remote from said stop member, a second cam member mounted to move with said bearing member adjacent said cam member, means on said second cam member adapted to engage said stop means to limit the rotary movement of the bearing member to locate the can cutting elements in operative and non-operative relation, a latch on the crank adapted to engage the two cam members, said second cam havinga cam formation one end o! which is within and the other end JAMES A. MURDOC'K. 

